I just got off the phone with Tony Franklin, who was fresh off an hour-long stint on the Paul Finebaum radio show. Franklin came across as intelligent and engaging in the interview, and certainly not overly bitter or angry. He told the Press-Register he waited a couple of weeks before commenting publicly to make sure he didn't speak out of emotion. But remaining silent is not his style, and thus the 51-year-old ex-coordinator spoke out today.

Franklin told me that he probably won't get another job in college football, and he's OK with that. For him to take another job, it would have to be a perfection situation, like the one he had at Troy: supportive head coach and loyal assistants. That opportunity might never present itself again, he said.

Franklin's house is up for sale, but he said he's enjoying Auburn more than he ever did when he was employed. Instead of waking up at 5 a.m. and returning home at midnight, Franklin has time to take walks, go the grocery store and eat at restaurants. He's met all his neighbors and has found that most Auburn people have been incredibly supportive.

"I didn't really know Auburn until I got fired," he said.

Franklin's lone beef with Auburn fans, and fans in general, is the booing of players. Franklin didn't mention quarterback Chris Todd by name, but Todd has certainly taken the brunt of Auburn fans' dissatisfaction with the offense.

"I love the state of Alabama and I love the passion of the fans for this game," Franklin said. "The only thing that really bothers me is how hard they are on the players. They don't realize when players take their helmets off, they're 18- to 20-year-olds that they really do hurt."